[Russ Arcuri]

Hi all,

I'm looking for some recommendations for speakers with the following specs:

Small; something smaller than a pair of Paradigm Atoms, if possible.

Efficient, as they'll be used with a low-power (5 watt) amplifier.

Approx. 5 ohms

Inexpensive. Very important. These aren't for an audiophile (they're a gift for someone who currently listens to the most awful-sounding "spacesaver" under-the-kitchen-cabinet radio imaginable. Almost anything would be an upgrade, and he will turn down any gift that looks "too expensive." Plus, the people buying these as a gift don't have a lot of money to spend on it.

Well, there's gotta be something out there that fits the bill. Thanks in advance!

 

[Gallaine]

It is difficult to tell what the budget is since "inexpensive" can be different depending on the person and their needs.

Try http://www.axiomaudio.com/index.html . You can a get a pair of bookshelf speakers ranging in price from $185 to $400. The M3ti and M22ti have received alot of good reviews. I've owned the M22ti for a year now. They are now hooked up to my receiver and I really like them.

 

[dudlew]

Inexpensive can be (at least for me

) $150. Or it can be $500.

You can check Cambrdge Sound Works at hifi.com. They have some inexpensive that shoud should sound good for your purposes if you are loooking in my price range. You can probably check out the JBL Control 1 speakers, if they still make them. Bear in mind I have never heard these OK?

D

 

[lini]

Another vote for the Control 1 - it's fairly efficient, sounds quite alright and it's very rugged. Quite inexpensive, either...

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

 

[Joe Bloggs]

Why don't you buy the guy a minisystem? Coz you obviously have to buy him a new source and amp too...

 

[darkclouds]

Check Tivoli.

 

[Russ Arcuri]

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. "Expensive" is pretty much anything over $100. I realize that means I'm probably asking in the wrong forum, but what the hey. The minisystem idea is a no-go... he already has one, that has a 5 watt amplifier rated to drive 5 ohm speakers. He just got this system for Christmas, and loves it dearly. The problem is that the built-in speakers are... lackluster (and that's an understatement). Hence the specificity of my request.

I'll look into the JBLs. Keep the suggestions coming, and thanks again.

 

[Joe Bloggs]

Then I say go into a hifi shop, ask for all the speakers that can be driven from a 5 watt amp (

) and audition them all.

 

[Russ Arcuri]

Quote:

Originally posted by Joe Bloggs Then I say go into a hifi shop, ask for all the speakers that can be driven from a 5 watt amp ( ) and audition them all.

Joe, the problem is that the vast majority of speakers in a typical hifi shop are not efficient enough -- I need something better than 90 dB/1 watt input, I think. That immediately eliminates anything by Cambridge Soundworks, btw. I thought maybe a pair of PSB Alpha Minis (which can be had for around $100 on sale in various places) would fit the bill. But they're not very efficient either.

Anyway, i thought I could get some pointers to a few appropriate models here. They don't have to meet the high standards for sound quality that most people here would expect, so some efficient mass-market speakers would be fine as well, even if they're not made by a dedicated speaker company. Even something from Sony would be an improvement over what he's got, as long as they're efficient enough to be driven by his amp.

 

[Joe Bloggs]

do you know how efficient are the ones that came with his hifi?

 

[Russ Arcuri]

Quote:

Originally posted by Joe Bloggs do you know how efficient are the ones that came with his hifi?

Unfortunately, no. I only know they sound terrible. BTW, I double-checked the specs on the built-in amp. It is rated for 8 ohm speakers, not 5. But it is only 5 watts.

Maybe we'll get him the PSB Alpha Minis, and tell him not to drive them too loud. I'd hate to get him a decent pair of speakers and have the tweeters fried because the amp clips at high volume.

 

[PinkFloyd]

JPW minim's, JBL Control etc.

 

[peter braun]

Russ, a shop in Portland, OR (www.echohifi.com) has a pair of Atoms for $110 including wall mounts. I saw this exact pair about a week ago, they look and sound great. They are a 1993 model, and in the non-black finish (for lack of a better word). I have bought a few things from these guys before, and I know they ship throughout the country.

 

[Joe Bloggs]

There's all these pairs of Pioneer minimonitors in Ap Liu Street here in HK selling for $30/pr...

I bet they are efficient enough too

My friend bought a pair of them and like them better than this pair of Rogers floorstanders...

 

[Ctn]

Hey this just came to my mind.

check these out.

http://www.theloudspeakerkit.com/4inchoverview.html

100 bux a pair.